Eight children have died of suffocation while playing inside a car parked in front of the owner’s house at Adelayo Street, Agunaje, along Badagry Expressway in Lagos.

The children between the ages of four and six, mistakenly locked themselves inside a Lexus SUV that have been parked on the street for weeks.

The car is said to be owned by one of their parents Saliat Kazeem.

Adekunle Ajisebutu, the police spokesperson in Lagos, said the children were found dead on Saturday, after one of the parent searching for her missing child found the child dead in the car.

The state police commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered a thorough investigation into the case, Mr Ajisebutu said.

“The eight children were said to have mistakenly locked themselves in an abandoned car while playing. Their bodies have been recovered and deposited at the Badagry General Hospital’s morgue for autopsy so as to determine the actual cause of death,” Mr Ajisebutu said.

“Notwithstanding the report made to the police, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered a thorough and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding their death. The CP also commiserates with the families of the victims,” he added.